We are NOT authorized by Govt of India for Yellow Fever Vaccination

Saturday, July 27, 2013

NEW DELHI: In a major relief for those travelling to African nations, government today received a consignment of 60,000 yellow fever vaccine doses through WHO which will be distributed across the country.

There has been acute shortage of the vaccine in the country and users are finding it difficult to get the vaccine ever since the Kasauli-based Central Research Institute stopped its manufacture.

The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory for all those travelling to African nations, after the World Health Organisation held a consultation on yellow fever saying the threat of introduction of Yellow Fever into Asia was very real in the age of faster air travel.

"There was a shortage of yellow fever vaccine as WHO was not supplying it leading to problems for users. We have procured 60,000 vaccines and the same are being distributed to 27 vaccination centres across the country for use," Director General of Health Service Jagdish Prasad told PTI.

The Health Ministry has already placed an order of 2.75 lakh doses of the vaccine from the WHO which are likely to be received soon and would be sufficient for two years.

The yellow fever vaccine is available at 27 government vaccination centres free of cost and is also available in the open market. However, due to shortage of the vaccine, it is being sold in the blackmarket by private retailers, leading to problems for those travelling to African nations.

Friday, July 26, 2013

The health ministry Monday said the yellow fevervaccine, which had been in severe shortage, would be available at all government-approved centres by next week.

"The supplies have arrived at the Mumbai port and sample for quality control certification has been sent to the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli on Thursday (July 18). Regular vaccination at all centres is expected to be normal within this week," an official release said here.

It further said that the vaccine had been supplied to all the yellow fever vaccination centres in the four metros Monday.

Yellow fever disease is endemic to 44 countries, of which 23 are in Africa and 11 in South America. India is free from the disease.

People visiting these endemic countries can get protection by immunisation against yellow fever through vaccine. Total annual demand of yellow fever vaccine in India is 1.8 lakh doses, the release said.

There are 27 yellow fever vaccination centres in the country.

The shortage of vaccine in the government-designated centres since March 2013 has been due to break-down of equipment at CRI Kasauli and interruption in supply of importation throughWorld Health Organisation due to global paucity.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Clinical update: release July 18, 2013

Key Points

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that booster doses of yellow fever vaccine are no longer necessary. However, CDC has not changed the recommendation that US travelers receive booster doses of yellow fever vaccine every 10 years if traveling to an area with risk of exposure to yellow fever virus.

Furthermore, the International Health Regulations (IHR) have not changed, and booster doses are still needed if yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into a particular country.

Background

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts recently concluded that a single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and lifelong protection against yellow fever disease and that a booster dose of the vaccine is not needed. Until now, WHO has recommended booster doses of yellow fever vaccine every 10 years for people residing in or traveling to an area where there is a risk of yellow fever.

Yellow fever vaccine is given to protect a person against the disease, as well as to protect against the spread of the disease among unimmunized people. Under the IHR, countries can require travelers to show proof of yellow fever vaccination, to prevent importation and transmission of yellow fever virus.

Despite the recent announcement from WHO, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) still recommends a booster dose of yellow fever vaccine every 10 years for US travelers to areas with yellow fever risk.

The time frame for ACIP to consider this issue is unknown. In addition, the IHR remain unchanged and still require a yellow fever vaccine booster dose every 10 years.

Travelers who do not have proof of yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years may be denied entry into a country with an entry requirement.

Recommendations for Yellow Fever Vaccine Use

Health care providers should make an individual risk assessment for each traveler for whom yellow fever vaccination is being considered, weighing the traveler’s risk for exposure to yellow fever virus, his or her risk factors for adverse events to the vaccine, and any entry requirements of the countries the traveler plans to visit.

The camps are the homes to people fleeing the fighting between the Khartoum government forces and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) North rebels.

A food security officer in the region, Mr Simawi Adlan told Tamzog, a local radio, that yellow fever outbreak had been reported at Doro and Batil camps on the border between Sudan and Ethiopia. “Around 80 people died because of this disease, just last June,'' he confirmed.

Mr Adlan attributed the cause to pollution and unsanitary conditions in the camps.

He warned of a more serious health disaster in the camps, urging aid organisations to provide latrines for the refugees.The government of Sudan has been battling SPLM\North in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since June 2011.

Khartoum has denied international humanitarian organisations access to the affected areas since the eruption of the war.

Friday, July 19, 2013

According to the Madera Mosquito and Vector Control District, the Aedes Aegypti has been found in traps in Madera Ranchos and Parkwood areas in Madera County. Madera Ranchos is approximately halfway between Madera and Clovis.

A few weeks ago, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) was identified in a several block area on the west side of the city of Madera. This aggressive day-biting mosquito is not native to California; however, it is a common mosquito in urban areas of the southeastern United States.

The Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District is working with the California Department of Public Health and the Madera County Department of Health to evaluate the extent of the infestation and will aggressively target problem areas to prevent its spread.

"Our goal is to eradicate this population," said Leonard Irby, the district's manager. "We definitely do not want this mosquito to become established in our communities."

The district continues to expand the search by going door-to-door in surrounding neighborhoods to undertake control measures including education, source reduction, larval control, and local ground-based adulticiding (fogging) as necessary to target adult mosquitoes. Fogging will begin immediately in the infestation area.

Unlike our most common mosquito species in Madera, this tiny (approximately 1/4 inch) distinctive black and white mosquito is a very aggressive day-biter. While they may be active around dusk and dawn, it is their day-biting habits that are most characteristic. Aedes aegypti is an efficient vector (transmitter) of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and several viruses that cause encephalitis.

Although the results for testing on the sample of Aedes Aegypti found in traps are negative for dengue or yellow fever, the public is urged to take precaution by preventing mosquito bites.

"At this time, there is no need to consider vaccination for yellow fever, unless you plan to travel in an endemic area. Everyone should practice diligent mosquito control, because some mosquitoes are vectors for other serious diseases such as West Nile Virus which is endemic to the San Joaquin Valley," urged Dr. Thomas Cole, health officer for Madera County.

Residents experiencing mosquito bites during the day are urged to report them to the Mosquito and Vector Control District.

"We need the public's help on this one," Irby said. "Everyone can do something."

Here are some mosquito control tips:

Check your yard weekly for water-filled containers.

Throw away or recycle water-holding containers that are not needed.

If empty containers or large objects, such as boats or old appliances must be stored, they should be covered, turned over or placed under a roof that does not allow them to fill with water.

Clean and scrub bird baths and pet-watering dishes weekly and dump the water from overflow dishes under potted plants and flower pots. Check that gutters are not holding water and cover rain barrels with tight screening so that mosquitoes cannot enter.

Fill tree holes and other cavities in plants with sand or soil.

Check for hidden bodies of water such as wells, septic tanks, manholes and clogged drains.

Call the Mosquito & Vector Control District when you detect unusual numbers of mosquitoes.

Avoid mosquito bites. Use personal protection to avoid mosquito bites. Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dusk and dawn. Apply repellents such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use repellents under clothing. In addition to wearing repellent, you can protect yourself and your family by using mosquito netting over infant carriers, cribs and strollers, and installing or repairing window and door screens to keep out mosquitoes.

Mumbai (I-Newswire) July 12, 2013 - Meningitis is a serious life threatening disease that can affect cause high fever, seizures, vomiting and a very rapid death if not diagnosed & treated in time. People staying in close quarters (like students in hostels) are at a higher risk for this disease. Hence when a student travels for higher studies internationally to USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK or any other country, many Universities insist that the student should take the Meningococcal Vaccine. TravelSafe Clinic, India now offers the latest MCV4 vaccine (Menactra) at all its centers in Chandigarh, Delhi & Mumbai.

More about the disease & the vaccine:The meningococcal disease can be prevented by the following vaccines: MCV4 and MPSV4.

Who should get the vaccine? All adolescents and young adults should receive this vaccine as prevention.When should the vaccine be given to my child?• 11-12 years of age: One shot now and a booster dose to be given at 16 years of age.• 13-15 years of age: One shot now and a booster dose to be given between 16-18 years of age.• > 16 years of age: Only a single shot is recommended and no booster. This is especially important for newly enrolled students who will be joining educational institutions in India and abroad and will be living in dorms or other closed housing.

It is a compulsory vaccination in the immunization schedule in the US but recommended only for high risk groups in India like students, people travelling abroad, people with medical conditions like having the spleen removed etc.

Where can I get this vaccine?This vaccine is freely available. Please contact your healthcare provider. Travelsafe clinic has this vaccine in stock all the time. Please contact us for a free consultation.

Is the vaccine safe?Yes, this is an imported vaccine that is safely used around the world in most developed countries including USA. Most people taking this vaccine will not have any side-effects whatsoever. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems such as severe allergic reactions. The risks associated with the vaccine are much less significant that the risks if one should contract meningococcal disease.

Mild reactions:About half of people who receive the shot have mild redness and soreness at the site of injection and this usually gets better within 1-2 days. Only a very small percentage of people develop fever.

Severe reactions:Allergic reactions like hives, breathing difficulties occur only in the rarest of rare cases and the center where you receive the vaccine will have facilities to provide emergency treatment prior to shifting to hospital in the extremely unlikely event that this should happen.

About UsTravelSafe Clinic is India’s first certified, branded & authoritative multi-city travel health clinic. Our Aim is to create a World Class, state of the art travel health clinic, providing up-to-date advice to make International travel safe and healthy while avoiding common preventable diseases. We have trained physicians and paramedical staff to help deal with all your travel health questions. TravelSafe clinics are located in Mohali (Chandigarh), Noida (National Capital Region, Delhi) & Mumbai. We are the only travel clinic to be members of all the elite professional travel health organizations in the world including International Society for Travel Medicine (ISTM), American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT), and British & Global Travel Health Association (BGTHA) . We are also the only organization from India to have presented data on the safety & tolerability of Stamaril (Yellow Fever Vaccine) in Indian population at various International conferences.

The Indian government has urgently procured yellow fever vaccine from multinational companies after a severe shortage resulting in people being unable to travel to African and some South American countries.

Visas to Africa and tropical and sub-tropical South American countries can be obtained only after the applicant submits a certificate given by one of the country's 15 authorised vaccination centres.

"There was a shortage, but the government has imported the vaccine from multinational companies like Sanofi Pasteur and the stock has arrived on July 11," Director General of Health Services Jagdish Prasad admitted to IANS.

Earlier, the vaccine was manufactured at the Central Research Institute, Kasauli. But this stopped after the two machines it used for the purpose broke down.

The total requirement for the vaccine is around 10.5 million vials. While CRI, Kasauli used to manufacture around 4 million vials, the balance was met through imports, a senior health ministry official said, adding the institute was never prepared to handle the huge demand.

Utpal Kumar Chattopadhyay, a senior official at the Institute of Health and Public Hygiene Kolkata, one of the centres where the vaccine is administered, told IANS that the last shot was given on June 21.

Neelam Gupta of the Travel Safe Clinic, which is another such centre in Noida, near the capital said: "There has been a shortage for nearly one month now."

She said a shot of the vaccine at her clinic cost Rs 2,800 (against Rs.400 at a government-run facility). "But we will also administer the shot if somebody procures the vaccine from outside."

Yashpal Jain, a businessman who is scheduled to travel to Zambia and has been running from pillar to post to get the vaccine said: "There are four centres in Delhi and all of them have run out of the vaccine. I will wait for another 10 days and then try again."

Another group of people who have been hit are vacationers. Lalit Sharma, who had planned a summer holiday in South America, said: "There has been a severe shortage across the country. I have not been able to get the vaccine shot and hence have postponed the trip."

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. It is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti female mosquito and is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and in all of Africa, but not in Asia.

Apart from being important for personal protection, yellow fever vaccination and its proof is a condition of entry in many countries, especially for travellers who have recently arrived from a country in a yellow fever zone.

Failure to take the vaccination may get one past immigration, but would certainly mean quarantine for 10 days on return in a government hospital, experts said.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Over half, or 64 per cent, of the mosquitoes recently tested in the southern port city of Busan (Pusan) were found to be carrying the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), prompting the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) to issue a nationwide alert late last week (week of 1 Jul 2013).

Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, and convulsions, and in extreme cases, coma (and death). Children are at higher risk, so officials advise parents to make sure young kids are vaccinated.

As the mosquitoes are most active until the end of October, the KCDC advises people to use mosquito nets indoors and limit the amount of time they spend outside.

When outdoors, the use of long-sleeved clothing and mosquito repellent is recommended.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) urges all Member States to strengthen their international travel advisories so that they are protected against measles and rubella prior to departure. This recommendation applies to both incoming travelers and for those traveling outbound of this Region.

Due to upcoming cultural and sporting events that will be hosted by countries in the Americas, PAHO/WHO encourages Member States in the Region to recommend vaccination against measles and rubella for all travelers to and from the countries of the Americas, in order to reduce the risk of reintroducing these diseases that have already been eliminated in the Americas.

Travelers who are not vaccinated against measles and rubella are at risk of getting these diseases when visiting countries where these viruses are circulating. Member States should seek to ensure vaccination, with particular attention to women of childbearing age to prevent any infection caused by the rubella virus during pregnancy.

Evidence of immunity to measles and rubella for travelers includes:

Written documentation of having received the measles and rubella vaccines;

Travelers over 6 months old who are unable to present the documents indicated should be advised by Member States to obtain vaccination for measles and rubella or preferably the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Ideally, the vaccine should be administered at least two weeks before departure.

Travelers with medical contraindications against undergoing vaccination for measles and rubella are the exception to the above instructions. In addition, infants under 6 months old should not be vaccinated. Infants that receive the MMR vaccine before their first birthday must be revaccinated according to the vaccination schedule in their country.

For the duration of the trip and upon returning to their point of origin, travelers should take notice of the following symptoms:

Fever

Rash

Cough, coryza (runny nose), or conjunctivitis (red eyes)

If the traveler believes that they have measles or rubella, they should:

Remain in the place where they are lodging (hotel or home, etc.) except to go to a doctor. They should not travel nor go to any public places;

Avoid close contact with other people for seven days following onset of rash

I recently visited Airpot Health Organization at Mumbai to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever. Would like to share my experience with those who wish to visit that location.I showed up early in the morning (~6am) and got my name and passport# written on a sheet being maintained by one of the YFV aspirant. My number was in 90s. Aparently, the list was sharted by someone previous day at 5pm, and 70th name was placed on the sheet at approx.3am.

Although only 70 vaccines are adminstred everyday and chance of me getting vaccinated that day were remote, I still hung around to see what happens.

At approx. 8am, people started forming queue in the order their names were written on the sheet. and they were let in after checking their passport and ticket. There were a few rejects because they were not carrying proper ticket, but not enough in number for me to get within the first 70.

Anyway, for those beyond 70, a separate queue was formed. at approx, 10:30am, One of the employees at Airport Health Organization (his name is Shivaji) then declared to those waiting that they can get vaccinated for Rs. 2,000 and said that no receipt would be issued for that amount. Most of the aspirants were already restless and most agreed to pay Rs. 2,000 and they were let in.

Since I could not pay any money without getting a receipt, I wanted to talk to APHO. There are noticed in the building that if any one demands more that Rs. 300 for the vannine, a complaint must be registed with APHO. Although there are couple of phone numbers as well, but no one picked the call on those numbers.

Finally, I got to talk to APHO. He himself told me that beyond the quote of 70, the hospital has procured vaccines from the open market and therefore it costs more and therefore they charge Rs. 2,000 for it. Since it is bought in bulk, an individual receipt is not issued. He also offered an alternative to it - procure the vaccine on your own and he will adminster it and issue a certificate.

Anyway, I noticed that there are many people walking in after 12pm, paying Rs. 2000 and getting vaccinated. I reckon more than 100 people would have got themselves vaccinated by payinbg this exorbitant amount. Besides, if you are paying Rs. 2,000 the documetation required is also relaxed. I noticed that the clerk wasn't checking tickets. In one case, one person was only carrying passport photocopy and she too was administred vaccination.

In short, cash is king. Just walk in anytime after 12pm (by then most of the crowd has left), pay full amount and walk out in no time. It is open for business till 5pm. "

About Me

I am a pediatrician based at Mohali, a suburb of chandigarh, North India. I have my own virtual office at www.charakclinics.com; I have been a pediatrician since 1994. I hope to make ths blog a regular feature with tonnes of relevant info for parents, especially in India, because i feel that "informed parents are better parents". My interests include research in OPD practice, specifically new vaccines and travel medicine. I am a member of American Academy of Pediatrics, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, and various travel organizations like International Society for Travel Medicine (ISTM), American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT), and British & Global Travel Health Association (BGTHA)